Sheriff Garrett asks commissioners to fund deputies, records staff and dispatcher in FY27 budget

Sheriff Garrett presented the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office proposed budget and asked commissioners to fund multiple staffing and technology items he said were necessary to keep pace with increased court activity and records demands. He requested four additional courthouse operations deputies, funding for an existing but unfunded communications officer, an administrative assistant, and a records clerk to manage a growing number of records requests and video redactions.

Garrett said the sheriff’s office has seen higher court volumes and more complex records requests since FY2022, including repeated requests from private entities that strain staff capacity. “We’re asking for 4 additional courthouse operations deputies,” Garrett said, and described the records-clerk role as needed to process records, redactions and RMS filing. Commissioners pressed on pay-grade placement for the administrative assistant and records clerk; one commissioner called the advertised administrative assistant duties “entry level” and urged the office to consider lower-cost alternatives where possible.

Garrett tied the staffing requests to efficiency gains from proposed software consolidation, arguing that a Lexipol suite would centralize policy, training records and quartermaster functions so staff can focus on substantive work. He also said the county has local contracts that defray some communication staffing costs with partner cities. The judge and commissioners asked follow-up questions on tabs and line items in the proposed packet; Garrett offered to provide additional detail if requested.